Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The Magnificent September Auction 2018 at Leon Gallery

León Gallery is pleased to announce The Magnificent September
Auction 2018 featuring important works of Philippine art, fine antiques
and furniture on the 8th of September 2018, starting at 2PM at Eurovilla 1, Legaspi Street corner
Rufino Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

This auction is in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Arts
and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, as part of its Funding
the Future project in order to raise funds for its academic endeavors in
modernizing its programs in terms of research and artistic exchanges in the
contemporary visual arts. Works donated by renowned contemporary artists shall
be auctioned off, in part, to benefit the programs of the MCAD.

Headlining our sale of Philippine art is an important work by National
Artist Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco. “The
Nose Flute” (1955) depicting a courtship ritual of two
lovers in the context of the Cordilleras. It is considered as one of the finest
masterpieces made by the artist in his lifetime and was once owed by
Lovina-Palileo family. This work is considered as one of the best and biggest
masterpieces of the artist and was painted during his best period. Also, this
was last seen by the public in 2012 when it changed ownership and has taken a
decade to make its way back to the country.

A major highpoint of the upcoming auction is “Pila sa Bigas
(Queuing for Rice)” a mixed-media work by Vicente Manansala. It features 17
ordinary folks all lined up and with tin cans waiting for their turn to buy or
maybe even ask for rice. Another fantastic work by the artist is “Mga
Sabungero (The Cockfighters)”, all from the collection of the late
Ambassador J.V. Cruz.

Another highlight is “Saeta 52” (1958)by the foremost
abstractionist Fernando Zóbel y Montojo. This painting has been repatriated
back in the Philippines. It was first exhibited at the prominent Philippine Art
Gallery (PAG) and is considered as one of the rarest large-scale canvasses of
this series by Zóbel. This is considered an exceptional painting because there
are only 10 known paingings of this size painted by the artist and most of
these are in museums and public collections already.

“Cross-Section/Ascension”
(1956-57) by the modernist Alfonso Ossorio is one of the most riveting
symphonies of color that the expatriate Filipino-American artist has ever
produced. It is believed that Ossorio painted this for his friend Jackson
Pollock since it was done right after the death of the latter who was on his way
to Ossorio’s house in the Hamptons when he had a tragic car accident.

Painted by Fernando Amorsolo, “Dalagang Bukid (The Country Lass)” (1927)is considered as one of the earliest known works centered on Amorsolo’s
ideal muse in his idyllic rural pastures bathed in sunlight. The work has a
stellar provenance and was previously owned by the painter Fernando Zóbel.

Other important works or art include a masterpiece by National Artist
Jose Joya, “Carnival” (1964), rediscovered from the Mark and Naheed
Houshmand Collection and two important works from the “Stations of the
Cross” series by Ang Kiukok.

Significant pieces of antique furniture are also featured in this
auction, carrying distinguished pedigrees attached to them. Furniture designed
and carved by the master Eduardo Ah-Tay and his Binondo workshop, known for
their impeccable workmanship and meticulously detailed carvings of Filipino and
Chinese motifs are highlights in this sale. A significant piece is a
four-poster Ah-Tay bed commissioned by the Pardo de Tavera Family, one of the
most affluent families in the 19th century. Also included is a pair
of estilo Louis Quinze arm
chairs done in the third quarter of the 19th century also done by
Ah-Tay.

One of the gems of this auction is a kamagong cabinet crafted
in the second quarter of the 19th century from the estate of Dr.
José Fernandez Fabella, one of the pioneers of modern Philippine healthcare
system and the Secretary of Health in Quezon’s cabinet. This cabinet was carved
with fine inlays of carabao bone and actuated on its top with urn-like finials,
which have been lined with silver and lanite. Important furniture
featured from the collection of Dr. Alejandro Roces Legarda is also on offer. A
secretary desk (better known as an escritorio) drawn from the Edwardian-style of the 20th
century that has been created from narra.

Noteworthy in this sale are items of fine Philippine objet d’ art, starting with a gilded silver monstrance used in
receiving in communion of the Catholic liturgy, made in the second quarter of
the 18th century and a set of 19th century ornate silver
crowns commissioned to adorn religious images; both have been sourced from the
Richard and Sandra Lopez Collection.

Exceedingly rare and historically important documents such as the “Decalogue” or Ten Commandments of the Katipunan which was
handwritten by Andres Bonifacio will also be included in the auction. A letter
from Josephine Bracken to El Presidente Emilio
Aguinaldo plus a letter from National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal to the Scottish
millionaire based in the Philippines, Mr. Alejandro Macleod, whom he personally
thanked for giving shelter to his sisters, Lucia and Trinidad.

Once a recruit was inducted into the society, their ranking shall be
determined by the “Kataastaasang Sangguinian” (Supreme Council) as
represented by a ceremonial medal featuring two crossed bolos. These important
documents and artifacts were sourced from the collection of the eminent
Philippine scholar Epifanio de los Santos, whose literature and scholarship
helped in detailing the true narrative of the Philippine Revolution.

It is fitting that in anticipation of the release of an upcoming film
“Goyo” featuring Gregorio del Pilar, military memorabilia from his own
regiment will be on the auction block. Two epaulets and hand-drawn designs of
the revolutionary uniform created by none other than Juan Luna will go under
the hammer. These designs were commissioned by his brother, General Antonio
Luna.

The preview of “The Magnificent September Auction 2018” shall run from
September 1-7, 2018 at León Gallery
located in Eurovilla
I, Legaspi Street corner Rufino Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

For more information, visit www.leon-gallery.com, call
+632 8562781 or email us at info@leon-gallery.com

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I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend..etc. I wear different hats in different strokes. I write to let my thoughts flow like a river. This is my way of expressing the deepest side of me. You may like me or hate me with what you can read here in my pages. But one thing is for sure, I do not sugar-coat a thing. What you can read is what you can get from me.